Agriculture

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The most concentrated irrigated agriculture in Mauritania is in the south bordering the Senegal River. The agricultural sector in Mauritania benefits from agreements and partnerships with the most important international funds and organizations active in the field.
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Mauritania’s potential for cultivable land is around 513.000 ha distributed as follows:

-135.000 ha in the Senegal River valley

-12.000 ha in the maritime zone

-250.000 ha in rainfed crops

-100.000 ha, under recession crops and behind dams

-16.000 ha of crops under palm trees

  • The valley zone and those of rainfed crops are more fertile for producing rice and cereals. Other areas in Mauritania have significant surface water resources making them suitable for good exploitation (Lake Rkiz, Lake Aleg, Lake Kankossa, Lake Maal, Tamourt N’aaj and la mare de Mahmouda, etc.).
  • The overall potential available in Mauritania is under exploited: 70.000 ha for irrigated agriculture and 180,000 ha for rain-fed agriculture.
  • Since agricultural production in Mauritania has yet to meet the strong demand from the sub-region’s markets, investment opportunities are tangible and very attractive.

THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR INVESTING IN AGRICULTURE IN MAURITANIA

In recent years, new legal and policy reforms have been put in place to improve the investment climate and support operators in the field of agriculture according to international criteria and standards.

THE INFRASTRUCTURES REQUIRED FOR AGRICULTURE IN MAURITANIA

  • Mauritania encourages private operators to develop and exploit land within the framework of the public-private partnership to develop arable land.
  • Any new agricultural season is accompanied by the government, which makes available seeds and quality fertilizers with the cooperation of international organizations operating in the field.

  • Several canals, dams and irrigation systems have been built by Mauritania in recent years. The Aftout Essahili canal which runs from the Senegal River over 55 km includes modern irrigation systems to encourage the practice of agricultural activities.

  • A new program has been launched by the Mauritanian government which aims to build 100 dams to increase the area of irrigable land.

  • The modernization of infrastructures consists in providing all the tools necessary for the development of this sector (harvesters, adequate storage places, etc.). The rice sector is the most important of all agricultural speculations in Mauritania.